The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-30
Joe JeffersOn's Home.

Joe JcfferSOn'S Home.
Across the marshes and bayous
eight miles to the west from Petite
Anse island rises Orange island, ia.
nous for it's orange plantation, but
called Jefferson island since it became
the property and home of Joseph JET
terson. Not so high as Petite Anse,
it is still conspicuous with its crown
OF dark forest. From high point on
Petite Anse, through lonely vista OF
trees, with Towering cacti in the lore
ground, Jeiferson's house is n white
spot in the landscape. We reached it
by O circuitous drive OF IL miles over
the prairie, sometimes in and some
/ times out OF water, and continually
diverted from our course by fences. 1t
| is ~ good sign OF the thrift OF the race,
and fits independence, that the color
ed people have taken up or bought lit
tie tracts OF 30 or 40 acres, put up
cabins, and new fences round their
domains regardless OF the travelling
public. We zigzagged all about the
country to get round these little en-
closures. At one place, where the
main road was bad, n thrifty Acadian
had set up toll of twenty-five cents
for the privilege OF passing through
his premises. The scenery was pas
toral and pleasing. There were fire.
quent round ponds, brilliant with Ill
les and heurs.de-lis, and hundreds OF
cattle feeding on the prairie or stand.
ing in the water, and generally OF a
dun-color, made always an agreeable
picture. The monotony was broken
by lines Of trees, by cape like
woods stretching into the plain,
and the horizon line was
! always fine. Great variety OF birds
enlivened the landscape, game birds
Astounding. There was the lively
nonparei, which seems to change it's
color, and is red and green and blue
i believe OF the oriole family-the
papabotte, a favorits on New Orleans
tables in the autumn, snipe, killdee.
the cheerooke (snipe?l the meadow
lark, and quantities OF teal duck in
the ponds. These little ponds are
called "bull-holes." The traveller Is
told that they are started in this wa
/ terv soil by the paving of bulls, and
grad ally enlarge as the cattle fire.
quent them. He remembers that he
has seen similar circular ponds in the
North not made by bulls.
Mr.. Jefferson's Residences pretty
rosevine-covered COTTAGES situated
on the slope OF the hill, overlooking n
broad plain and vast stretch OF bayou
country. Along one side OF his home
enclosure for a mile runs q superb
hedge of Chickasaw roses. On the
Stops back n the house, and almost
embracing it, is a magnificent grove
OF liveoaks, . ut gray stems, and the
/ branches hr' with heavy masses of
moss, whic wing in the wind like the
pendo 9ughs OF the willow, and
with something OF its sentimental and
mournful suggestions. The recesses OF
this forest are cool and dark. but up
on ascending the hill, suddenly bursts
upon the view under the trees a most
lovely lake OF clear blue water. This
lake which may be mile long and a
half mile broad, is called Lake Peig-
neur, from its fanciful resemblance, /
believe to q wool-comber.
The shores are wooden. On the ISL
and side the bank is precipitous; on
the opposite shore amid the trees is n
hunting lodge and believe there are
plantations on the north end, but it
Is in aspect altogether solitary and
peaceful. But the island did not want
life. The day was brilliant, with a
deep blue sky and hieh-sailing fieecy
clouds, and 1t seemed a sort OF animal
holiday; squirrels chartered; cardinal
birds flashed through the green leaves;
there fitted about the red-winged
blackbird, bluejays. red headed wood
peckers, thrushes and occasionally a
rain.cro crossed the scene; high over
head sailed the heavy buzzards, de-
scribimg great aerial circles; and of in
the still lake tile ugly heads OF the al
leators toasting in the sun.-Charles
Dudley Warner, THE Acadian Land"
in Harper's Magazine for February.